Manchester United include 17-year-old striker Gabriele Biancheri in first-team training

Manchester United youngster Gabriele Biancheri trained with the first team at Carrington on Thursday.

The players who did not start against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup trained and academy youngsters are often required to make up numbers in such sessions.

Biancheri, 17, was given the opportunity to train with the first team after Forest and he was pictured alongside Christian Eriksen and Toby Collyer. His natural position is at centre forward and he was rewarded with his first professional United contract in September.

It's understood Under-21 manager Travis Binnion advises the first-team coaching staff on which youngsters should make the step up when extra numbers are required in training.

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Erik ten Hag's assistant coach Mitchell van der Gaag has developed a healthy relationship with Binnion over the last 18 months and he is often the link between the first team and the academy.

Biancheri joined United from Cardiff in January 2023. The youngster has played for Wales at youth level and is also eligible to represent England and Italy internationally.

He has contributed five goals and three assists in 13 appearances for the Under-18s, who remain undefeated in the league and are on track to comfortably win the division title.

United are currently dealing with a striker crisis after Rasmus Hojlund sustained a muscle injury that is expected to have him sidelined for around two to three weeks.

Anthony Martial is recovering from groin surgery and Joe Hugill was sent on loan to Burton Albion in the January window, meaning youngster Charlie McNeill is the only fit striker available.

McNeill returned from his loan with Stevenage in